DESMOND VAN ROOYEN

Bodyguard

I remember the 4.30am daily walks in the middle of winter in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The security team stationed at Madiba’s house would sometimes wish Madiba would oversleep or decide not to take the walk. Our wishes were very seldom fulfilled as Madiba often came out of the house, early in the morning, with a big smile. He’d greet us warmly and then we were off into the cold, dark and empty streets of Cape Town or Johannesburg.